Abstract
Based on 25 years of research related to teamwork and team training, the Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) program was created in 2006 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Department of Defense (DoD) Patient Safety Program. TeamSTEPPS is an evidence-based teamwork system designed for health care professionals to improve patient safety and interprofessional communication and teamwork. This mixed-method literature review and pilot study aims to demonstrate the significance of integrating TeamSTEPPS training into baccalaureate nursing programs, while also examining and evaluating various approaches for its effective implementation. A comprehensive literature review was performed to determine the importance of TeamSTEPPS education for the undergraduate nursing student population. A pilot implementation was conducted with a sample of 24 undergraduate nursing students to explore the program’s applicability and effectiveness in this setting. Research currently shows the benefit of integrating TeamSTEPPS teamwork training throughout a baccalaureate nursing curriculum, as well as the knowledge gained by students because of this curriculum-wide integration. The results of the pilot align with the broader literature, demonstrating that TeamSTEPPS is an effective educational tool that enhances students’ confidence and competence in communicating with others in clinical settings. Students reported feeling better prepared to enter the workforce and communicate with other professions due to the educational training on TeamSTEPPS they were provided.